Shake Up St. Patrick’s Day With This Matcha Shamrock Smoothies Recipe

Green cocktails and/or green beer are old standbys on St. Patrick’s Day, but if you want to get your green on and not wreck your healthy intentions, we’ve got you covered with this matcha shamrock smoothie. Blend up this ultra green smoothie to put pep in your step first thing in the morning or to sip after working out. You’ll love getting your greens in three different ways: spinach adds substance, matcha provides caffeine, and the avocado contributes a creamy, indulgent texture. As a bonus, these smoothies are vegan. Feel free to use your favorite liquid sweetener like agave, honey, or date syrup, starting with one tablespoon and then sweeten to taste. We used four tablespoons of maple syrup — either grade A or B are fine.

The salt is an important addition to this minty smoothie as it amplifies the flavor of the other ingredients, and just a dash will do. When shopping for matcha, use your eyes — the color should be a vivid green that makes you almost blink. A little matcha goes a long way, so stock up on the good stuff! We have a feeling this smoothie will make any morning lucky, not just St. Paddy’s Day.

Matcha Shamrock Smoothie RECIPE

Recipe by Annelies Zijderveld, Brit + Co

(Serves 2)

Ingredients:

1 cup unsweetened almond milk

½ cup water

liquid sweetener, to taste

½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon pure peppermint extract

1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon matcha green tea

2 cups spinach

½ avocado, pitted and peeled

Instructions:

In the following order, add the almond milk, water, maple syrup, vanilla extract, peppermint extract, salt, matcha, spinach, and avocado to a blender.

Annelies Zijderveld is the author of Steeped: Recipes Infused with Tea. Her food writing and photos have been featured in Paste Magazine, The Kitchn, TODAY, Darling Magazine, AllRecipes, and other publications, She whisks together food and poetry on her blog, The Food Poet, and on Instagram at @anneliesz.